Our view: Task force brings peace of mind

A multi-jurisdictional law enforcement task force flooded the streets of Monroe during a two-week period this summer.

It was a show of force that made an impression on the community, and, we suspect, criminals.

Certainly, the numbers are impressive. Over the course of the two operations, which took place July 21-23 and July 31-Aug. 2, the agencies issued 165 traffic citations and made 244 arrests. Law enforcement seized 17 firearms, three vehicles and $18,335 in cash.

One methamphetamine lab was seized along with more than 120 grams of meth. Of the 244 arrests, 129 were drug-related and 92 were warrant arrests.

Though we know one two-week crackdown won't eliminate crime, we believe the effort did remove many criminals from the streets and let the bad actors know the streets still belong to us.

But even more important, it showed at a time when distrust and unrest in the Monroe Police Department has been front-page news that law enforcement officers still have their eyes on their responsibility, the safety of the community.

The task force focused on Monroe because police officers there say they have had trouble doing routine patrols in between calls. It focused on using tips and intelligence to assist in conducting proactive criminal patrols. The task force reinforced police presence on the streets, assisting local patrol divisions that need time to focus on responding to calls from the public.

"All of us here worked together," Ouachita Parish Sheriff Jay Russell said. "You put aside the badge, and you do what's best for the citizens of Ouachita Parish."

More than 40 Monroe police officers, West Monroe police officers, Sterlington police officers, Ouachita Parish sheriff's deputies, Louisiana state troopers, Metro Narcotics agents, Department of Public Safety officers and officers from the University of Louisiana at Monroe patrolled the streets. Each unit contained officers from different agencies — a sheriff's deputy partnered with a West Monroe officer; a Monroe officer with a state trooper. They worked together in the rain and provided assistance to other units when necessary. Even a state police helicopter was used.

Such efforts can only enhance future cooperation and knock down jurisdictional walls in cases of emergency or short-staffing. It also speaks well of the professionalism and training of the officers on the street.

Russell, whose office supervised the task force, described how the presence of multiple agencies affected suspects.

"You get out (of the patrol unit), and there's a ULM PD uniform, and a West Monroe PD uniform, and Monroe PD uniform, and a sheriff's office or a trooper or a DPS or a Sterlington police, or any of that, and it sort of confused the suspects on the street. They didn't know what to think. And then about that time, you had a helicopter hover about 100 feet off the ground over them. If they thought about running, they changed their mind."

Fourth District Attorney Jerry Jones, who he suggested the idea of the task force to Russell years ago, insists this is not a once-and-done operation.

"We need to continue this. It needs to be done often, on a regular basis. We need these police officers on the street doing what they know how to do, making arrests."

We agree. The task force's success calls for continued efforts. Such a focused show of force on a regular basis will go a long way in making everyone sleep just a little bit better.

The editorials in this column represent the opinions of The News-Star's editorial board, composed of General Manager and Executive Editor Kathy Spurlock, Business and Polititcs Editor Greg Hilburn, Senior Writer Barbara Leader and community representatives Terry Baugh, Al Cherry and Denna, McGrew.